Farmers hail installation in Hacienda Velez-Malaga, say it was a victory for all defenders of land right

TASK FORCE MAPALAD
PRESS RELEASE
March 22, 2007
Email: tfmnational@yahoo.com

After 10 years of struggle and a series of failed promises, the 122 farmer-beneficiaries of the contentious Hacienda Velez-Malaga in Barangay Robles, La Castellana, Negros Occidental were finally installed in the land awarded to them five years ago under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP).

Gerry Cahilig, a CLOA holder, said Department of Agrarian Reform Secretary Nasser Pangandaman had declared them installed in 114 hectares covered by their collective certificate of land ownership award (CLOA).

The installation was secured by some 300 elements of both the police Regional Mobile Group (RMG) and the 11^th Infantry Battalion of the Philippines Army.

Some 30 hard core supporters of former landowner Roberto J. Cuenca were reported arrested by the RMG for throwing rocks at police vehicles, but otherwise no untoward incident was reported.

“The installation was well supervised and under complete control by Secretary Pangandaman,” Cahilig said.

Pangandaman made a surprise move to install after he was reportedly ordered by President Arroyo during the cabinet meeting last Wednesday to proceed with the installation.

Farmers on hunger strike in front of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) in Quezon City hailed the installation and thanked President Arroyo for responding to their plea for installation.

Gregorio Paclibar, 71, one of the hunger strikers and president of Hacienda Velez-Malaga Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Organization (HAVEMARBO), said the installation was a victory not only of Velez-Malaga farmers but of all those who fight for and defend the right of the poor to own land.

“The installation would not have been possible without the determined sacrifice of the farmer-beneficiaries and the support given by multi-sector groups, including peasant advocates, religious groups, solidarity networks, and the government through President Arroyo,” he said.

Paclibar added: “There is no victory without unity, determination, and sacrifice. This victory is for all.”

Paclibar said they will formally announce the lifting of their hunger strike when the installation is declared completely successful and secured.

“We have started to eat lugaw (gruel). We want to hear that the farmer-beneficiaries out there in the hacienda are fully secured. If our land is put in danger again, we are ready to make more sacrifice,” he said.

Jose Rodito Angeles, president of the peasant federation Task Force Mapalad (TFM), said he was told that a community precinct to be manned by police and military would set up inside the hacienda.

“Police and military presence in the hacienda is very important to ensure the safety of the farmer-beneficiaries and to prevent reprisal by the armed men of former landowner Roberto Cuenca,” Angeles said.—(30)

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